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5G news: Trump official says Biden refused to ‘side with science,’ prompting airline chaos

5G news: Trump official says Biden refused to ‘side with science,’ prompting airline chaos

Donald Trump appointed FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr issued a statement Wednesday blaming the Biden administration for the chaotic rollout of Verizon and AT&T’s 5G wireless, which caused several airlines to cancel or delay flights in and into the US over fears that the technology would disrupt aircraft instruments.

“This is a clear failure of leadership. At any point in time, the White House could have stood up and sided with the science. They didn’t,” Mr Carr said.

Major international airlines have begun cancelling flights to the United States after the Federal Aviation Administration raised concerns about 5G wireless towers near airports.

Emirates, Air India, Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways announced it would suspend flights after the Airlines for America trade group pressured the Biden administration over “catastrophic disruption” due to the scheduled 19 January rollout.

Emirates suspended flights into nine airports, including Boston, Chicago O’Hare, Dallas Fort Worth, George Bush Intercontinental in Houston, Miami, Newark, Orlando, San Francisco and Seattle. It said it would continue flying into New York’s John F. Kennedy airport, the Los Angeles airport and Washington Dulles. Sir Tim Clark, the airline’s president, called the US government and the wireless companies “delinquent” and “irresponsible” for creating the conditions that allowed for the chaos to occur.

Wireless telecom giants AT&T and Verizon announced the activation of 5G towers near some US airports would be delayed for two weeks to resolve the differences.

The high-speed 5G internet uses so-called C-band frequencies close to those used by aircraft to measure their altitude, with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) warning potential interference could affect sensitive aeroplane instruments such as altimeters and significantly hamper low-visibility operations.

Follow live updates below

Top Posts

  • Air India, Japan Airlines and Emirates cancel US flights over 5G

  • Joe Biden says Verizon and AT&T agreement avoids ‘potentially devastating disruptions’

  • White House convinced AT&T and Verizon to delay activation of 500 towers, report says

  • AT&T delays switching on 5G near airports after airlines warn of ‘catastrophic disruption’

  • Watch: Pilots association slams 5G launch as ‘reckless’

BREAKING: AT&T delays switching on 5G near airports after airlines warn of ‘catastrophic disruption’

Tuesday 18 January 2022 18:49 , Justin Vallejo

Wireless telecom giant AT&T announced the activation of 5G towers near some US airports would be delayed after airlines warned of “catastrophic disruption” of flights near certain airports.

A day before AT&T is due to switch on its 5G towers, the company blasted the Federal Aviation Administration after airline CEOs asked the Biden administration warning the launch on Wednesday could cause thousands of flight cancellations affecting more than 100,000 passengers.

‘We are frustrated by the FAA’s inability to do what nearly 40 countries have done, which is to safely deploy 5G technology without disrupting aviation services, and we urge it do so in a timely manner,’ AT&T officials said in a statement on Tuesday.

HOW COULD 5G AFFECT FLIGHTS?

Tuesday 18 January 2022 18:57 , Justin Vallejo

Following a flurry of headlines about the delay to the rollout of high-speed 5G internet in the US, many travellers have concerns about its potential effect on flight safety.

In early January, US mobile networks Verizon and AT&T agreed to push back their 5G rollouts - originally planned for December - until 19 January over aviation concerns, following a request from transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

However, this week top airline executives sent a letter to Buttigieg and other federal officials, saying in no uncertain terms that if the rollout goes ahead this week as planned, it could be “catastrophic” for the aviation industry.

So should we be worried about the dawn of 5G?

Here’s Lucy Thackray with everything we know so far.

How could 5G affect flights?

Watch: Pilots association slams 5G launch as ‘reckless’

Tuesday 18 January 2022 19:06 , Justin Vallejo

Allied Pilots Association spokesperson Dennis Tajer said on Tuesday suggested that the rollout of 5G near airports could put the lives of passengers at risk.

“This is reckless, it’s dangerous, and it’s got to stop,” Tajer told the Today Show on Tuesday.

“Take a pause. This is about a cellphone signal, and we’re focused on protecting lives.”

Watch the full exchange below:

White House convinced AT&T and Verizon to delay activation of 500 towers, report says

Tuesday 18 January 2022 19:25 , Justin Vallejo

The Biden administration took an “active role” in convincing wireless carriers like AT&T and Verizon to delay the launch of 5G towers near airports, according to Reuters.

The outlet reported nearly all but a handful of the towers impacted by the delay belong to Verizon. While it was unclear how many that included, sources told Reuters that airlines proposed about 500 towers, or 10 per cent of the planned rollout, remain temporarily offline.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said in a statement that the Biden administration is “committed to reaching a solution around 5G”.

Joe Biden says Verizon and AT&T agreement avoids ‘potentially devastating disruptions’

Tuesday 18 January 2022 19:33 , Justin Vallejo

Joe Biden weighed into the 5G delay, saying to the agreement to delay activation of 10 per cent of towers would “avoid potentially devastating disruptions to passenger travel, cargo operations, and our economic recovery”.

He added that the White House has been engaging the wireless carriers, airlines, and aviation equipment manufacturers to find a solution.

“At my direction, they will continue to do so until we close the remaining gap and reach a permanent, workable solution around these key airports,” he said.

READ IN FULL: Statement by President Biden on 5G Agreement

Tuesday 18 January 2022 19:50 , Justin Vallejo

January 18, 2022Statement by President Biden on 5G Agreement

I want to thank Verizon and AT&T for agreeing to delay 5G deployment around key airports and to continue working with the Department of Transportation on safe 5G deployment at this limited set of locations. This agreement will avoid potentially devastating disruptions to passenger travel, cargo operations, and our economic recovery, while allowing more than 90 percent of wireless tower deployment to occur as scheduled. This agreement protects flight safety and allows aviation operations to continue without significant disruption and will bring more high-speed internet options to millions of Americans. Expanding 5G and promoting competition in internet service are critical priorities of mine, and tomorrow will be a massive step in the right direction. My team has been engaging non-stop with the wireless carriers, airlines, and aviation equipment manufacturers to chart a path forward for 5G deployment and aviation to safely co-exist – and, at my direction, they will continue to do so until we close the remaining gap and reach a permanent, workable solution around these key airports.

Air India, Japan Airlines and Emirates cancel US flights over 5G

Tuesday 18 January 2022 20:35 , Justin Vallejo

Before the Biden administration stepped in on the delay of 5G towers near airports, deInternational carriers had begun cancelling flights to the US over the uncertainty around the wireless network.

So far, flights to the US have been cancelled by Air India, Japan Airlines, Emirates and ANA, according to Flight Tracker, which follows air traffic around the globe.

Earlier, the FAA warned carriers that the 5G signal could disrupt instruments of certain aircraft.

Air India said in a statement it was standing by to change its aircraft type flying to the US from 19 January.

FAA sets rules for some Boeing 787 landings near 5G service

Tuesday 18 January 2022 21:30 , Justin Vallejo

Before today’s delay, federal safety officials directed operators of some Boeing planes to adopt extra procedures when landing on wet or snowy runways near impending 5G service because, they say, interference from the wireless networks could mean that the planes need more room to land.

The Federal Aviation Administration said Friday that interference could delay systems like thrust reversers on Boeing 787s from kicking in, leaving only the brakes to slow the plane.

That “could prevent an aircraft from stopping on the runway,” the FAA said.

The agency is still studying whether those wireless networks will interfere with altimeters, which measure an aircraft’s height above the ground. Data from altimeters is used to help pilots land when visibility is poor.

The FAA is conducting tests to learn how many commercial planes have altimeters that might be vulnerable to spectrum interference. The agency said this week it expects to estimate the percentage of those planes soon, but didn’t put a date on it.

Aircraft with untested altimeters or that need retrofitting or replacement will be unable to perform low-visibility landings where 5G is deployed,” the agency said in a statement. - AP

5G roll-out should be stopped everywhere while ‘adverse health effects’ are investigated, expert claims

Tuesday 18 January 2022 21:40 , Justin Vallejo

Before the roll-out of 5G was slammed to a halt near airports, a health expert warned the entire network should be delayed to further investigate potential risks of “adverse health effects”.

Professor John William Frank from the Usher Institute at the University of Edinburgh claimed that no more transmitter towers should be built in order to limit public exposure while safety standards are reviewed.

In an opinion piece published in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, Professor Frank wrote that the radio frequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMFs) emitted by 5G towers could cause negative “biological effects”

“A growing number of engineers, scientists, and doctors internationally [are] calling on governments to raise their safety standards for RF-EMFs, commission more and better research, and hold off on further increases in public exposure, pending clearer evidence of safety,” he wrote.

“It is highly likely that each of these many forms of transmission causes somewhat different biological effects – making sound, comprehensive and up-to-date research on those effects virtually impossible.”

The Independent’s Anthony Cuthbertson has the full story:

5G roll-out should stop while ‘suspected adverse health effects’ investigated, expert claims

FAA and airline trade industry that brought down 5G rollout respond to delay

Tuesday 18 January 2022 22:10 , Justin Vallejo

For such a major victory in the high-stakes game of chicken with wireless telecom giants, the architects of the 5G delay were muted in their response to the win.

Nicholas Calio, president of the Airlines for America trade group, thanked federal officials for reaching the deal with AT&T and Verizon.

“Safety is and always will be the top priority of U.S. airlines. We will continue to work with all stakeholders to help ensure that new 5G service can coexist with aviation safely,” Calio said.

The FAA, meanwhile, said it looks forward “to using the additional time and space to reduce flight disruptions associated with this 5G deployment.”

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg response 5G delay

Tuesday 18 January 2022 22:42 , Justin Vallejo

US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has finally chimed in on the 5G spout in a statement put out by the Federal Aviation Administration.

Read the full response below:

“We recognize the economic importance of expanding 5G, and we appreciate the wireless companies working with us to protect the flying public and the country’s supply chain. The complex U.S. airspace leads the world in safety because of our high standards for aviation, and we will maintain this commitment as wireless companies deploy 5G.”

Two-week 5G delay doesn’t go far enough, Air Line Pilot Association says

Tuesday 18 January 2022 23:20 , Justin Vallejo

The trade group for 61,000 pilots at 38 US and Canadian airlines has responded to the delay of 5G towers near airports, saying the two-week postponement doesn’t go far enough.

“Passengers and shippers deserve a commitment from the telecom companies not to launch the new 5G service at any of the airport locations identified by the FAA as being susceptible to 5G interference until a permanent fix is found,” they said in a statement.

“As we have reiterated for years, the aviation community has been raising red flags about 5G interference with aircraft instruments – concerns that have been ignored by the Federal Communications Commission and the telecom companies, creating the mess we’re in today.”

Read the full response below.

What happens next?

Wednesday 19 January 2022 00:00 , Justin Vallejo

The two-week postponement will give the FAA and the companies time to implement the agreement.

AT&T and Verizon will be allowed to launch C-Band service this month under already-granted FCC licenses. The airlines have until Friday to give the companies a list of up to 50 airports where they believe the power of C-Band service should be reduced through July 5.

Until July, the telecoms will talk to the FAA and airlines about potential long-term measures regarding 5G service near airports. However, under terms of the agreement with the FAA, AT&T and Verizon will have sole power to decide if any changes in service will be made.

“We felt that it was the right thing to do for the flying public, which includes our customers and all of us, to give the FAA a little time to work out its issues with the aviation community and therefore avoid further inconveniencing passengers with additional flight delays,” Vestberg said in his memo. - Associated Press

Wednesday 19 January 2022 01:00 , Justin Vallejo

Read the letter that brought down the full 5G rollout

Two wireless telecom giants were brought to heel by a conglomerate of major aviation industry players, including Delta Airlines, American Airlines, United Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines, Atlas Air Worldwide, Alaska Air Group, Hawaiian Airlines, FedEx Express, UPS Airlines, and the industry group Airlines for America.

Read the full 17 January letter below.

How many planes does 5G affect?

Wednesday 19 January 2022 02:00 , Justin Vallejo

The FAA will conduct a survey to find out\ how many planes are potentially affected by 5G near airport runways.

While planes with accurate, reliable altimeters will be allowed to operate around high-power 5G, those with older altimeters will not be allowed to make landings under low-visibility conditions.

The airline industry raised the stakes in a showdown with AT&T and Verizon over plans to launch new 5G wireless service this week, warning that thousands of flights could be grounded or delayed if the rollout takes place near major airports. - AP

ICYMI: 5G masts near airports lead to AT&T and Verizon activation delay

Wednesday 19 January 2022 03:00 , Justin Vallejo

AT&T and Verizon have said they will delay activating some 5G masts around airports after aviation bosses warned that signals could have a “catastrophic” effect on air travel.

Less than 36 hours before Verizon and AT&T were set to deploy new 5G services, the top executives of major passenger and cargo carriers in the nation warned against an impending “catastrophic” aviation crisis.

The airline industry leaders said in a letter the deployment of new 5G mobile internet technology could lead to the grounding of a number of flights due to interference from the technology, "potentially strand tens of thousands of Americans overseas" and lead to a "chaos" for US flights.

The Independent’s Namita Singh has the full story:

AT&T and Verizon delay 5G masts near airports over warnings

Airlines fly into 40 countries with same 5G the FAA warns could risk lives, industry group says

Wednesday 19 January 2022 04:00 , Justin Vallejo

In response to the push by US airlines and the FAA to delay the rollout of 5G near airports, the wireless trade group CTIA says airlines already fly to almost 40 countries without any major disruptions.

“In some of these countries, 5G signals operate in spectrum adjacent to aviation equipment. U.S. airlines fly in and out of these countries every day. If interference were possible, we would have seen it long before now,” wrote CITA CEO Meredith Attwell Baker in today’s Morning Consult.

These are the countries CITA says US carriers are already flying into:

Australia, New Zeland, Peru, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Philippines, China, Oman, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Latvia, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Czech Republic, United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany Luxemburg, France, Switzerland, Austra, Italy, Spain, Greece, Slovenia, Slovakia, Croatia, Hungry, Romania, Bulgaria, Kuwait, Qatar, UAE, and Singapore.

Airlines fly into 40 countries with same 5G the FAA warns could risk lives, industry group says (CITA)
Airlines fly into 40 countries with same 5G the FAA warns could risk lives, industry group says (CITA)

Why is 5G not an issue in other countries?

Wednesday 19 January 2022 05:00 , Justin Vallejo

The European Union in 2019 set standards for mid-range 5G frequencies in a 3.4-3.8 GHz range, a lower frequency than the service set to be rolled out in the United States. The bandwidth has been auctioned in Europe and is in use in many of the bloc’s 27 member states so far without issue.

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which oversees 31 states, said on Dec. 17 the issue was specific to U.S. airspace. “At this stage, no risk of unsafe interference has been identified in Europe,” it said.

FAA officials have noted the spectrum used by France (3.6-3.8 GHz) sits further away from the spectrum (4.2-4.4 GHz) used for altimeters in the United States and France’s power level for 5G is much lower than what is authorized in the United States.

Verizon has said it will not use spectrum that is closer to the higher band for several years.

In South Korea, the 5G mobile communication frequency is 3.42-3.7 GHz band and there has been no report of interference with radio wave since commercialization of 5G in April 2019.

Currently, 5G mobile communication wireless stations are in operation near airports, but there have been no reports of problems.

“Wireless carriers in nearly 40 countries throughout Europe and Asia now use the C band for 5G, with no reported effects on radio altimeters that operate in the same internationally designated 4.2-4.4 GHz band,” CTIA, a U.S. wireless trade group, said in a filing with the Federal Communications Commission. - Reuters

Whose side is the Biden administration on in 5G fight?

Wednesday 19 January 2022 06:00 , Justin Vallejo

Both.

The Federal Communications Commission, which runs the auctions of radio spectrum, determined that C-Band could be used safely in the vicinity of air traffic. The FCC in 2020 set a buffer between the 5G band and the spectrum that planes use to resolve any safety concerns.

But Buttigieg and FAA Administrator Stephen Dickson, whose agency is responsible for aviation safety, saw a potential problem. On Friday, they asked AT&T and Verizon to hold off activating C-Band 5G near an undetermined number of “priority airports” while the FAA conducted further study. - Associated Press

HOW COULD 5G AFFECT FLIGHTS?

Wednesday 19 January 2022 07:01 , Justin Vallejo

Following a flurry of headlines about the delay to the rollout of high-speed 5G internet in the US, many travellers have concerns about its potential effect on flight safety.

In early January, US mobile networks Verizon and AT&T agreed to push back their 5G rollouts - originally planned for December - until 19 January over aviation concerns, following a request from transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

However, this week top airline executives sent a letter to Buttigieg and other federal officials, saying in no uncertain terms that if the rollout goes ahead this week as planned, it could be “catastrophic” for the aviation industry.

So should we be worried about the dawn of 5G?

Here’s Lucy Thackray with everything we know so far.

How could 5G affect flights?

How are AT&T and Verizon taking it?

Wednesday 19 January 2022 08:00 , Justin Vallejo

Both wireless giants have dismissed the concerns of the airline industry.

The wireless industry trade group CTIA notes that about 40 countries have deployed the C-Band strand of 5G without reports of harmful interference with aviation equipment.

But AT&T CEO John Stankey and Verizon CEO Hans Vestberg did offer to reduce the power of their 5G networks near airports, as France has done.

“The laws of physics are the same in the United States and France,” Stankey and Vestberg said in a letter Sunday to Buttigieg and Dickson. “If U.S. airlines are permitted to operate flights every day in France, then the same operating conditions should allow them to do so in the United States.”

Although they took steps to soothe the federal officials, the telecoms are still bickering with airlines, which have canceled more than 10,000 U.S. flights since Christmas Eve because of bad weather and labor shortages caused by COVID-19.

“While the airline industry faces many challenges, 5G is not one of them,” Vestberg said in a company memo Tuesday.

- Associated Press

Pilot union begs for 5G rollout to be halted at US airports: ‘This is no way to protect our safety record’

Wednesday 19 January 2022 08:30 , Eleanor Sly

The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), a trade group for 61,000 pilots at 38 US and Canadian airline companies, has said that a two-week delay in activating 5G towers around airports is not enough to ensure a permanent solution.

The association said that the delay in rollout acknowledges the seriousness of aviation safety and operational risks. But airline passengers and shippers “deserve a commitment from the telecom companies not to launch the new 5G service at any of the airport locations identified by the FAA as being susceptible to 5G interference” till a permanent fix is found, it said.

It also criticised the Federal Communications Commission and telecom companies for ignoring red flags about 5G.

Namita Singh reports:

Pilot union begs for 5G rollout to be halted at US airports

ICYMI: President Joe Biden responds to 5G delay

Wednesday 19 January 2022 09:00 , Justin Vallejo

January 18, 2022 Statement by President Biden on 5G Agreement

I want to thank Verizon and AT&T for agreeing to delay 5G deployment around key airports and to continue working with the Department of Transportation on safe 5G deployment at this limited set of locations. This agreement will avoid potentially devastating disruptions to passenger travel, cargo operations, and our economic recovery, while allowing more than 90 percent of wireless tower deployment to occur as scheduled. This agreement protects flight safety and allows aviation operations to continue without significant disruption and will bring more high-speed internet options to millions of Americans. Expanding 5G and promoting competition in internet service are critical priorities of mine, and tomorrow will be a massive step in the right direction. My team has been engaging non-stop with the wireless carriers, airlines, and aviation equipment manufacturers to chart a path forward for 5G deployment and aviation to safely co-exist – and, at my direction, they will continue to do so until we close the remaining gap and reach a permanent, workable solution around these key airports.

What is 5G and how fast will it be?

Wednesday 19 January 2022 10:00 , Justin Vallejo

What is all the fuss about around 5G?

At Mobile World Congress this year, Samsung showcased its 5G Home Routers, which achieved speeds of up to 4 gigabits-per-second (Gbps), according to PCMag. That’s 500 megabytes-per-second, which could let you download a 50GB game in under two minutes, or a 100GB 4K movie in under four minutes.

To give you an idea of how fast that is, the average internet speed in the US as of 2016 is 55 megabits-per-second, which translates to a woeful 6.5 megabytes-per-second.

The Independent’s Antonio Villas-Boas takes a closer look:

Your internet speeds will be insanely fast when 5G arrives

Which flights have been cancelled due to the 5G rollout?

Wednesday 19 January 2022 10:46 , Thomas Fenton

British Airways is among several airlines to ground flights to and from the US because of safety concerns over the deployment of 5G.

There are concerns that the telecom system could interfere with some types of radio altimeter – equipment critical for landings.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said: “Because the proposed 5G deployment involves a new combination of power levels, frequencies, proximity to flight operations, and other factors, the FAA will need to impose restrictions on flight operations using certain types of radar altimeter equipment close to antennas in 5G networks.”

The Boeing 777 aircraft – the leading long-haul, wide-bodied plane worldwide – is particularly affected.

British Airways has cancelled morning departures from London Heathrow to New York JFK, Chicago and Los Angeles. Some other services have had planned 777 aircraft replaced by other types.

You can find out which other routes have been impacted in Simon Calder’s report:

All the flights that have been cancelled due to 5G rollout

ICYMI: 5G roll-out should be stopped everywhere while ‘adverse health effects’ are investigated, expert claims

Wednesday 19 January 2022 11:00 , Justin Vallejo

Before the roll-out of 5G was slammed to a halt near airports, a health expert warned the entire network should be delayed to further investigate potential risks of “adverse health effects”.

Professor John William Frank from the Usher Institute at the University of Edinburgh claimed that no more transmitter towers should be built in order to limit public exposure while safety standards are reviewed.

In an opinion piece published in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, Professor Frank wrote that the radio frequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMFs) emitted by 5G towers could cause negative “biological effects”

“A growing number of engineers, scientists, and doctors internationally [are] calling on governments to raise their safety standards for RF-EMFs, commission more and better research, and hold off on further increases in public exposure, pending clearer evidence of safety,” he wrote.

“It is highly likely that each of these many forms of transmission causes somewhat different biological effects – making sound, comprehensive and up-to-date research on those effects virtually impossible.”

The Independent’s Anthony Cuthbertson has the full story:

5G roll-out should stop while ‘suspected adverse health effects’ investigated, expert claims

United customers advised to contact FCC over delays

Wednesday 19 January 2022 11:47 , Thomas Fenton

According to Reuters journalist David Shepardson, United airlines have redirected disgruntled customers to contact the FCC amid ongoing 5G-related delays.

‘New: @United tells customers to contact @FCC over delayed flight’, he writes, with a screenshot of the United message attached.

Watch: Pilots association slams 5G launch as ‘reckless’

Wednesday 19 January 2022 12:00 , Justin Vallejo

Allied Pilots Association spokesperson Dennis Tajer said on Tuesday suggested that the rollout of 5G near airports could put the lives of passengers at risk.

“This is reckless, it’s dangerous, and it’s got to stop,” Tajer told the Today Show on Tuesday.

“Take a pause. This is about a cellphone signal, and we’re focused on protecting lives.”

Watch the full exchange below:

Explainer: Why 5G is causing so much disruption to the aviation industry

Wednesday 19 January 2022 12:39 , Thomas Fenton

The airline industry is raising the stakes in a showdown with AT&T and Verizon over plans to launch new 5G wireless service this week, warning that thousands of flights could be grounded or delayed if the rollout takes place near major airports.

CEOs of the nation’s largest airlines say that interference from the wireless service on a key instrument on planes is worse than they originally thought.

AT&T and Verizon plan to activate their new 5G wireless service Wednesday after two previous delays from the original plan for an early December rollout.

The new high-speed 5G service uses a segment of the radio spectrum that is close to that used by altimeters, which are devices that measure the height of aircraft above the ground.

Read a full rundown of the issue here:

EXPLAINER: 5G and air travel

Delay to 5G implementation goes far beyond aviation interference - experts suggest

Wednesday 19 January 2022 13:25 , Thomas Fenton

The delay in the rollout of 5G is only the latest of several factors making companies cautious on deploying the next-generation wireless service in their operations, analysts and industry executives say.

As the Wall Street Journal reports, AT&T Inc. and Verizon postponed their 5G rollouts at the start of the month - and agreed to do so again on Tuesday. This is chiefly to give the Federal Aviation Administration more time to assess whether the new wireless signals interfere with flight control systems or not.

But even beyond the two-week delay, there is no dearth of reasons that companies are being careful on 5G. The cost and complexity of bringing out new infrastructure are holding back some, as well as the less-than-ringing demand, analysts say.

“There is a lengthy time frame between making the described airwaves available at auction, conducting the auctions, then actually deploying the infrastructure to support these airwaves,” Bill Menezes, a director at Gartner Inc, told the WSJ.

“What’s more, apps that might generate demand and drive 5G adoption are still in relatively early stages of development.”

5G rollout: United Airlines tells delayed customers to complain to the government in angry online message

Wednesday 19 January 2022 13:48 , Thomas Fenton

United Airlines have advised disgruntled customers to contact the FCC amid ongoing 5G-related delays.

The company issued the message to customers whose flights had been delayed by several hours on Tuesday evening as a result of the rollout of a new 5G system across the US.

“New: @United tells customers to contact @FCC over delayed flight,” journalist David Shepardson shared on Twitter, with a screenshot of the United message attached.

The airline’s message reads: “Your flight is delayed due to potential interference caused by the implementation of a new 5G signal by telecommunications systems near Denver International Airport and its possible impact on aircraft equipment.

“If you have any concerns, please address them with the Federal Communications Commission here.”

Read more:

United Airlines share angry message with customers amid ‘reckless’ 5G rollout

Pilot Association: FCC and telecom companies “ignored” our warnings over 5G interference

Wednesday 19 January 2022 14:00 , Thomas Fenton

The Air Line Pilots Association, which represents more than 61,000 pilots at 38 US and Canadian airlines, put out a statement last night on Twitter regarding the 5G implementation delay.

“Today we issued the following statement on the recent #5G implementation delay,” they captioned the Tweet.

The association went on to say that the delay in rollout acknowledges the seriousness of aviation safety and operational risks.

But airline passengers and shippers “deserve a commitment from the telecom companies not to launch the new 5G service at any of the airport locations identified by the FAA as being susceptible to 5G interference” until a permanent fix is found, the statement concluded.

Read it in full below:

Emirates chief says he did not know about US 5G rollout until morning prior, calls all involved “delinquent,” and “irresponsible"

Wednesday 19 January 2022 14:55 , Graig Graziosi

Sir Tim Clark, the president of Dubai-based airline Emirates, blasted the US government and US wireless providers during an appearance on CNN Wednesday.

Mr Clark said he was not made aware of the details of the US 5G rollout until Tuesday morning. Emirates primarily operates using Boeing 777s, which are especially susceptible to the kind of instrument malfunction airline safety experts warn could be caused by 5G.

“I need to be as candid as I normally am, and say this is one of the most delinquent, utterly irresponsible issue subjects, call it what you like, I’ve seen in my aviation career because it involves organs of government, manufacturers, science, etc. And you know, the notion that, for instance, the United States government should sell its franchise for all the frequencies for a large amount of money,” he told CNN’s Richard Quest. “Somebody should have told them at the time - that the risks and the dangers they placed in certain frequency uses around field, airfields, metropolitan fields that should have been done at the time.”

Which major hub airports have been affected?

Wednesday 19 January 2022 15:24 , Graig Graziosi

The Independent’s David Taintor has collected a list of hub airports that have been affected by the 5G rollout.

Those airports include Boston Logan International, Chicago’s O’Hare, and the Dallas Fort Worth International airport.

For a full list of US hub airports currently experiencing delays caused by the rollout, as well as a look into which international carriers are cancelling flights, check out the story here.

Japan Airlines to resume flights to US beginning Thursday

Wednesday 19 January 2022 16:16 , Graig Graziosi

Japan Airlines issued a press release Wednesday morning informing customers it would resume flights to the US on Thursday.

“Today on January 19, we have received confirmation from the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) that there is no longer a problem with the operation of the Boeing 777 and we will resume service to the U.S. mainland with Boeing 777 from January 20,” the company said in the statement.

The airline cancelled flights on Wednesday in response to the wireless carriers’ 5G rollout.

Wednesday 19 January 2022 17:26 , Graig Graziosi

United Airlines issued a statement just before noon on Wednesday praising the Biden administration for reaching a compromise with Verizon and AT&T that temporarily halted the rollout of 5G at cell towers near airports.

"While we anticipate minor disruptions at some airports due to the remaining 5G restrictions, we're pleased the Biden Administration reached a compromise with AT&T and Verizon to avoid mass cancellations across the aviation industry," the statement said.

"We look forward to a higher level of coordination between the regulators, telecom companies and the aviation industry to ensure that customers are not faced with disruptions going forward.

Fewer than 300 flights have been cancelled due to the 5G rollout

Wednesday 19 January 2022 18:23 , Graig Graziosi

Despite the widespread critcism from the airline industry toward the US’s planned 5G rollout on Wednesday, fewer than 300 flights appear to have been cancelled as a result. As President Joe Biden noted in a statement earlier today, 90 per cent of cell towers scheduled to utilise 5G were activated today. The only towers that were not activated were those within 50 miles of an airport.

FlightAware is a company that tracks flight delays and cancellations. As of 1 pm, 2,398 flights have been cancelled today, and 3,488 were delayed.

Based on those numbers it is difficult to tell exactly how many were caused by the 5G rollout, but cancellation and delay data from other days suggests these numbers are not unusual.

Yesterday, 2,688 flights were cancelled, and 6,363 were delayed.

FAA gives Boeing 777 waiver to fly in US during 5G rollout

Wednesday 19 January 2022 18:40 , Graig Graziosi

Bloomberg reports that the FAA issued waivers for Boeing 777s to fly during the 5G rollout on Wednesday. The company warned that the planes should not land at airports where 5G was present as it could affect their altimeters.

The Boeing 777’s altimeter uses frequencies just above the frequency that Verizon and AT&T are using for their 5G wireless services. Aviation experts fear that the broadband frequencies may be too close to those used by the 777s and could cause malfunctions to the airplanes’ equipment.

Bloomberg noted that its information came from sources that were prohibited from speaking on the subject.

British Airways, All Nippon Airways release statement on 5G rollout disruption

Wednesday 19 January 2022 19:00 , Graig Graziosi

British Airways released a statement on Wednesday updating customers on its operations amid the 5G disruption to airline traffic.

“Safety is always our priority and although we had to cancel a handful of services, we’ve done everything we can to minimise inconvenience for our customers. We’ve changed the aircraft operating some of our flights and rebooked those on cancelled services onto alternatives,” the statement said. “We’re disappointed that, like other airlines, some of our customers’ travel plans have been disrupted.”

All Nippon Airways out of Japan also issued a statement Wednesday saying it would resume flights on Thursday.

“As the launch of the 5G service in the U.S. has now been partially postponed, operation of flights from 1/20 will follow the normal schedule based on FAA notification that there is no safety issue with the operation of Boeing 777 aircraft to the U.S. airports that we serve,” the company said in the statement.

Numerous airlines, Japan Airlines and Emirates, have cancelled flights into the US amid the troubled rollout. Japan Airlines later reversed its position and said it would resume flights to the US beginning Thursday.

No Canadian flights impacted by 5G rollout

Wednesday 19 January 2022 19:28 , Graig Graziosi

Canadian airlines have not been affected by the 5G rollout in the US on Wednesday, according to several major airlines operating in the country.

Air Canada and WestJet Airlines said that none of their flights to the US have been cancelled due to the rollout.

Transport Canada said it has taken protective measures to reduce interference with plane altimeters flying in so-called exclusion zones at airports near 5G towers.

US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg got a transportation crisis for his 40th birthday

Wednesday 19 January 2022 20:00 , Graig Graziosi

US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg celebrated his 40th birthday on Wednesday.

Unfortunately for him, it also intersected with a chaotic day of transportation woes as numerous airlines cancelled and delayed flights in and into the US over Verizon and AT&T’s 5G rollout.

Mr Buttigieg addressed the issues to Action 4 News in Pittsburgh ahead of the rollout Wednesday.

“The focus right now is to minimize any delays or disruptions that are associated with those restrictions to keep airplanes safe. And at the same time, support the deployment of this technology. And what that means in the short term is asking the wireless carriers to hold off on activating that piece of their network that involves antennas that are very close to runways, so that we can make sure that all the safety issues are squared away,” Mr Buttigieg said.

Wednesday 19 January 2022 20:51 , Graig Graziosi

Donald Trump appointed FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr issued a statement Wednesday blaming the Biden administration for the chaotic rollout of Verizon and AT&T's 5G wireless, which caused several airlines to cancel or delay flights in and into the US over fears that the technology would disrupt aircraft instruments.

"Nearly two years ago, the FCC - the expert agency charged by Congress with regulating wireless carries' transmissions - authorised C-Band operations pursuant to a detailed, 258-page regulatory decision," he wrote. "It was a decision based on sound engineering, good process, and real-world experience, including the fact that C-Band operations are live in nearly 40 countries today without any negative impacts on aviation."

He went on to say that the Biden administration "chose to upend that settled decision and replace it with a chaotic and haphazard process."

"This is a clear failure of leadership. At any point in time, the White House could have stood up and sided with the science. They didn't," Mr Carr wrote.

Airlines warned for weeks that 5G rollout could cause flight disruptions

Wednesday 19 January 2022 21:37 , Graig Graziosi

The flight disruptions caused by Verizon and AT&T’s 5G rollout Wednesday were predicted weeks ago by the FAA and the airline industry.

The FAA noted as early as 23 December that the 5G rollout in the US could impact aircraft instruments.

The Biden administration has faced criticism from the FCC, airlines and wireless carriers for the temporary chaos caused by the rollout.

Airline trade boss says collaboration needed between airlines, wireless carriers to solve 5G problem

Wednesday 19 January 2022 22:30 , Graig Graziosi

Nick Calio, the CEO of Airlines.org, a trade organisation representing major US airlines, told CNN that in order to move past the 5G issue that caused numerous airlines to cancel flights Wednesday, the companies involved would need to reach a solution together.

“We’ve got to solve the problem. That’s taking collaboration between Verizon and AT&T, the airlines, and manufacturers like Boeing and Airbus,” he said.

Japanese Airlines say they will resume flights to the US tomorrow

Wednesday 19 January 2022 23:00 , Graig Graziosi

Two Japanese airlines said they would resume flights to the US tomorrow after Verizon and AT&T’s 5G rollout caused several airlines to cancel flights on Wednesday.

Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways both released statements on Wednesday saying they planned to resume flights into the US on Thursday.

Earlier in the day both airlines had cancelled flights over fear that 5G towers near major US airports could disrupt the instruments on certain aircraft.

Which airports were affected by Wednesday’s 5G chaos?

00:00 , Graig Graziosi

The Independent’s David Taintor compiled a list of hub airports that were affected by the 5G rollout on Wednesday.

Those airports include Boston Logan International, Chicago’s O’Hare, and the Dallas Fort Worth International airport.

For a full list of US hub airports currently experiencing delays caused by the rollout, as well as a look into which international carriers are cancelling flights, check out the story here.

Despite 5G chaos, flight cancellations were not significantly higher than any other day

00:30 , Graig Graziosi

Despite the widespread critcism from the airline industry toward the US’s planned 5G rollout on Wednesday, fewer than 300 flights appear to have been cancelled as a result. As President Joe Biden noted in a statement earlier today, 90 per cent of cell towers scheduled to utilise 5G were activated today. The only towers that were not activated were those within 50 miles of an airport.

FlightAware is a company that tracks flight delays and cancellations. As of Wednesday evening, 307 flights have been cancelled, and 5,038 were delayed.

Based on those numbers it is difficult to tell exactly how many were caused by the 5G rollout, but cancellation and delay data from other days suggests these numbers are not unusual.

Yesterday, 281 flights were cancelled, and 6,351 were delayed.

ICYMI: Trump appointed FCC commissioner blames 5G rollout woes on Biden administration

01:00 , Graig Graziosi

Donald Trump appointed FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr issued a statement Wednesday blaming the Biden administration for the chaotic rollout of Verizon and AT&T’s 5G wireless, which caused several airlines to cancel or delay flights in and into the US over fears that the technology would disrupt aircraft instruments.

“Nearly two years ago, the FCC - the expert agency charged by Congress with regulating wireless carries’ transmissions - authorised C-Band operations pursuant to a detailed, 258-page regulatory decision,” he wrote. “It was a decision based on sound engineering, good process, and real-world experience, including the fact that C-Band operations are live in nearly 40 countries today without any negative impacts on aviation.”

He went on to say that the Biden administration “chose to upend that settled decision and replace it with a chaotic and haphazard process.”

“This is a clear failure of leadership. At any point in time, the White House could have stood up and sided with the science. They didn’t,” Mr Carr wrote.